Thinking of Buying a New TeeVee ... LED, LCD, Plasma ?

[Zoom-boing]

Thinking about replacing the tv in the basement (old Sharp bought off of craigslist years ago, crappy sound, crappy pic), possibly as a Christmas present for the kiddos.

Am reading up on different kinds. Do any have a disadvantage when viewing at an angle? What about viewing while up close? My son has vision issues and tends to sit close to the tv. Plasma is out, as I can only find them in 42" and up screen size, am looking for 32" so I guess either LED or LCD. The tv's I've browsed also only have one composite input but did find a work-around for that (need two composite inputs). Pros? Cons? Thoughts? Experience? All are welcome. Thx.

I know there's a thread around here someplace on tvs but dang if I can find it. I really do suck at the search thing.

 

[AquaAthena]

Thinking about replacing the tv in the basement (old Sharp bought off of craigslist years ago, crappy sound, crappy pic), possibly as a Christmas present for the kiddos.

Am reading up on different kinds. Do any have a disadvantage when viewing at an angle? What about viewing while up close? My son has vision issues and tends to sit close to the tv. Plasma is out, as I can only find them in 42" and up screen size, am looking for 32" so I guess either LED or LCD. The tv's I've browsed also only have one composite input but did find a work-around for that (need two composite inputs). Pros? Cons? Thoughts? Experience? All are welcome. Thx.

I know there's a thread around here someplace on tvs but dang if I can find it. I really do suck at the search thing.

I cannot find any disadvantages to my two Sony widescreens, one 40 inch and the other, a 46-inch edge-lit LED-based LCD. I sit three feet in front of it.

I have read that the newer, thiner, TVs look good but all the good things that came with the ones of 4 years ago, have also become less. E.g., the deep resonant sound and quality of volume, for starters. Love the Sony sound. I like to stay with manufacturers who have been in the "sound" business for a long time, i.e., Sony, Phillips and I hear (? ) lol....Samsung is awesome in that department.

Good luck. The kiddos will probably love anything...lol

 

[Zoom-boing]

Ok here's a (probably dumb) question ... are all the tvs out now widescreen or is that yet a different option?

Gaaa, I am so old school with tvs. lol

 

[Kiki Cannoli]

Bought a LG 42 LCD a few months ago. I also have vision issues with plasma. I prefer to view from a slight angle and have no issues with this set. You are correct on some if the output capabilities. I have a bose surround system which required some extra 30 bucks for cable and a switch to route thru the dvd and wii equipment.

What i learned is that flat screen life expectancy is parallel to that of a cell phone...dont buy thinking it will be around more than 4 or 5 years at most.

Good luck.

My tv is widescreen optional.

 

[Zoom-boing]

Bought a LG 42 LCD a few months ago. I also have vision issues with plasma. I prefer to view from a slight angle and have no issues with this set. You are correct on some if the output capabilities. I have a bose surround system which required some extra 30 bucks for cable and a switch to route thru the dvd and wii equipment.

What i learned is that flat screen life expectancy is parallel to that of a cell phone...dont buy thinking it will be around more than 4 or 5 years at most.

Good luck.

My tv is widescreen optional.

The bolded? This pisses me off to no end. We're of the "buy the best you can afford, take care of it and it will last you a long time" mindset. Likely this is why I'm so old-school with so many things! lol

 

[strollingbones]

wait wait till jan after the super bowl...tv prices will drop

 

[Moonglow]

I'm going for the 92" LCD after the super bowels. A wall of tv. Porn hasn't look so good as when you saw it in a theater.

 

[TNHarley]

I like LCD and LED. Have had both. No complaints from either. Plasma is the best to me. But like you said, they dont come in small sizes. I am about to buy a 3d 40something inch in a couple days. Cant wait for that shit!

 

[Zoom-boing]

My parents just moved into a continuing care/retirement place and got a new tv. My oldest brother had recently upgraded his tv so he went with my dad. (yes I did ask his advice, which was to replace all our tvs with new, big-assed tvs and switch over to FIOS. ) He convinced my dad to buy a freaking 46" tv. It's HUGE in the room. Too big and bigger isn't always better. Also (and this is probably just me) ... sometimes HD is TMI, it's too clear. I've seen some where I swear I can count the pores on peoples faces. Don't like it. Maybe that was just that particular set? Our basement can handle a 32" size, our family room currently has a 32" and could maybe go a bit bigger but not much. No clue what the next 'size' is though.

 

[Zoom-boing]

I like LCD and LED. Have had both. No complaints from either. Plasma is the best to me. But like you said, they dont come in small sizes. I am about to buy a 3d 40something inch in a couple days. Cant wait for that shit!

Do you notice any big differences between the LED and LCD, especially if viewing the screen from an angle? What brand(s) do you have? We've had luck with Toshibas and Panasonics. The Sharp we have sucks, imo.

 

[TNHarley]

I like LCD and LED. Have had both. No complaints from either. Plasma is the best to me. But like you said, they dont come in small sizes. I am about to buy a 3d 40something inch in a couple days. Cant wait for that shit!

Do you notice any big differences between the LED and LCD, especially if viewing the screen from an angle? What brand(s) do you have? We've had luck with Toshibas and Panasonics. The Sharp we have sucks, imo.

Both were Sony. Honestly, I couldnt really tell much of a difference..

 

[strollingbones]

okay get your ducks in a row.....find out what kinda warranty you will get with which credit card...hhgregg always has this 18 months same as cash...but figure out if that is really a good deal....
check consumer reports and other testing magazine...chat up all your friends *this is just to utterly confuse you*...go to a couple of tech repair boards and see what repair techs are saying....lots of homework to do.....but you got a month or more..right after the superbowl.....you got inventory coming up.....prices drop

 

[asaratis]

Thinking about replacing the tv in the basement (old Sharp bought off of craigslist years ago, crappy sound, crappy pic), possibly as a Christmas present for the kiddos.

Am reading up on different kinds. Do any have a disadvantage when viewing at an angle? What about viewing while up close? My son has vision issues and tends to sit close to the tv. Plasma is out, as I can only find them in 42" and up screen size, am looking for 32" so I guess either LED or LCD. The tv's I've browsed also only have one composite input but did find a work-around for that (need two composite inputs). Pros? Cons? Thoughts? Experience? All are welcome. Thx.

I know there's a thread around here someplace on tvs but dang if I can find it. I really do suck at the search thing.

I cannot find any disadvantages to my two Sony widescreens, one 40 inch and the other, a 46-inch edge-lit LED-based LCD. I sit three feet in front of it.

I have read that the newer, thiner, TVs look good but all the good things that came with the ones of 4 years ago, have also become less. E.g., the deep resonant sound and quality of volume, for starters. Love the Sony sound. I like to stay with manufacturers who have been in the "sound" business for a long time, i.e., Sony, Phillips and I hear (? ) lol....Samsung is awesome in that department.

Good luck. The kiddos will probably love anything...lol

You could get wide eyed from that!

okay get your ducks in a row.....find out what kinda warranty you will get with which credit card...hhgregg always has this 18 months same as cash...but figure out if that is really a good deal....
check consumer reports and other testing magazine...chat up all your friends *this is just to utterly confuse you*...go to a couple of tech repair boards and see what repair techs are saying....lots of homework to do.....but you got a month or more..right after the superbowl.....you got inventory coming up.....prices drop

Waiting 'til after the S-bowl is good advice. I think last year it was in February...used to be on New Years Day.

Since the OP has already ruled out Plasma, I won't post my reason for favoring one of the other two.

LED is favored here over LCD...sitting three feet from a 46" screen is not.

I am awaiting the marketing of a spherical screen. With the viewpoint near the center of the projected sphere, and the use of fish-eye cameras to record the action, the viewer is truly "at the center of things" and experiences the most realistic presentations possible.

This will come after the development of the circular screen utilizing multiple cameras and projectors to surround the viewer with images from all directions. Reminds me of the Chinese Pavilion at DisneyWorld.

 

[Kiki Cannoli]

I'm going for the 92" LCD after the super bowels. A wall of tv. Porn hasn't look so good as when you saw it in a theater.

why not just a projection system?

 

[Uncensored2008]

I like LCD and LED. Have had both. No complaints from either. Plasma is the best to me. But like you said, they dont come in small sizes. I am about to buy a 3d 40something inch in a couple days. Cant wait for that shit!

Just remember that the terms don't mean what you think.

An "LED" TV is an LCD.

Sorry for the confusion, but this deals with backlighting. Liquid crystal gives off no light. A traditional LCD display uses florescent tubes to provide a backlight for the display. This has several disadvantages, particularly "banding," which is light areas around the tubes. Using LED lights instead of florescent provides a much more uniform display.

So LED TV's are LCD backlit by LED's.